Assembly/AU/4(XI) Page 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In May 2006 at Abuja, Nigeria, the AU Heads of State and Government held a Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) on the theme: “Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services by a United Africa by 2010”. The main objective of the Special Summit was to review the status of implementation of the Declarations and Plans of Action on the 2000 Abuja Summit on Roll Back Malaria (RBM) and the 2001Abuja Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Other Related Infectious Diseases (ORID). This would in turn enable them review the status of implementation of healthrelated MDGs, particularly no. 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases. After due deliberations including review of the challenges and opportunities, the African Leaders re-dedicated themselves to scaling up efforts towards universal access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Services by 2010 and adopted the following commitments: a) Abuja Call for Accelerated Action Towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services in Africa; b) Africa’s Common Position to the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (June 2006), together with the Brazzaville Commitment on Scaling Up Towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS Services in Africa. c) The Continental Framework for Harmonization of Approaches and Policies on Human Rights and People Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS. The roles Member States and other stakeholders were to play in the implementation of the outcome of the Special Summit were clearly spelt out. The AU Commission, in collaboration with RECs and Development Partners, was requested to coordinate the preparation of a 2-year Progress Report on the status of implementation in 2008. The Report, which is a result of collective efforts by the AU Commission, WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF comprises a summary covering the three diseases together, complemented by three disease-specific Reports. The Progress Report is timely in view of the 30th. Anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration on Health For All through access to Primary Health Care, and the June 2008 schedule by the UN General Assembly to consider the Progress Report on the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted in 2006. The Report has, as much as possible, tried to focus on addressing the 12 Priority Areas of the Abuja Call for Accelerated Action Towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria services by 2010, namely: Leadership at National, Regional and Continental levels; Resource mobilization; Protection of Human Rights; Poverty Reduction, Health and Development; Strengthening Health Systems; Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support; Access to Affordable Medicine and Technologies; Research and Development; Implementation; Partnerships; and Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting. Between 2006 and 2008, member States have sustained the pace and in some instances scaled up efforts to implement national and regional Strategic Plans on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, in the framework of the Abuja commitments towards universal access to comprehensive services by 2010. Political will, commitment and